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The holiday hustle is upon us, folks! Christmas is sneaking up faster than a reindeer on roller skates, and if you don't want to be buried under a mountain of tinsel and mince pies, it’s time to whip up a survival plan! Forget just surviving—let’s sprinkle in some joy and snag a moment of bliss amidst the chaos. Buckle up, because here comes my fail-proof Christmas countdown to keep you merry and bright!
NOVEMBER - GET STARTED NOW!
Get Crafting: Christmas is a great time to get crafting and whether you're just jazzing up a few cards with stickers or you have much bigger plans afoot, the time is now to make sure that you have got everything that you need. Brushes, paint, glue, glitter, printer ink, they're all easy to find when you don't need them but no one wants to be asking who used the snowflake sprinkles last, am I right? So do yourself a favor now and while the seasonal price hikes haven't quite started, spread the cost on those crafting essentials.
Keep an eye out for gifts: It's a truth universally acknowledged that we all have that one person who is an absolute pain to buy for and we've all been guilty of handing over an apologetic gift card from one big retailer or another. So, make it different this year. Target acquired! You know who your culprit is and keeping an eye out for them now means that you've got the best chance of snagging the perfect little treat. Of course, we don't just mean heading out onto the high street if that isn't your vibe. There are 1000s of small businesses that operate their own websites filled with truly unique items you won't find anywhere else. Take to social media and you won't spend too long finding something that makes your heart sing. Obviously, at Thistle and Bard, you're spoilt for choice for the princes and princesses in your family.
Plan Your Days Out: Tickets sell fast and many were available from October so do not delay any longer if you want to see that pantomime or winter light show! If your perfect Christmas retreat lies abroad, buying your train or plane ticket now could be 50% cheaper than doing so last minute (yes, people do that)!
Start Food Shopping: Dry goods such as biscuits (cookies for you Americans), sweets, plum puddings, and alcohol all have long use-by dates. Stock up on them now - Cheesy Footballs always disappear long before December and you know it! Not only will this help you stretch that budget, you'll also put less stress on the days when you do need to brave the supermarket in the peak Christmas season - if you have the willpower to stop yourself from early snacking! Stir-up Sunday is November 24th this year - traditionally the time to make your plum puddings and Christmas cake if you're going DIY. You won't be alone though, so get those ingredients now while they are on the shelf (I've got another way to celebrate too but you'll need to wait till the blog on November 23rd for that)!
Write to Santa: Could there be a more important letter? I don't think so. This is your quick reminder that Santa always likes to hear from the little ones but writing out his letter can take a few iterations. Children can be capricious creatures - much like elves! If there are no little ones in your family, you could use this moment to get the Christmas cards sent. Everyone prefers a real card to a text and sending them early means you stand a much higher chance of getting some back! Make sure that you check out the range here at Thistle and Bard for a stunning eco-friendly variety with a touch of shimmer!
DECEMBER - WEEK 1
Let's Decorate: If you have resisted the urge not to do this in November then now is the time to let out your inner Christmas interior designer and go full diva with the tinsel. I have a little secret for you - you don't have to make it a family affair if you don't want to. It's not a sin to protect your inner peace! Not everyone enjoys this pastime though and if you are struggling for ideas make sure you check the blog for my guide to 2024's decorating trends coming November 17th.
Plan Your Food: Don't be fooled by the number of days left before you. If you're ordering your food for Christmas and you haven't already done it - get to this ASAP because those collection and delivery times are going faster than you would believe. I don't think there is a single person alive who likes to do a big Christmas shop when the supermarkets are at their busiest, so decide what your Christmas Day Food is going to look like. Please (read that again)! Do not put added stress on yourself and declare you are going to make everything from scratch - unless you've got access to a host of sous-chefs! There is nothing wrong with getting ready-made and with a few simple alterations, assure you no one will know the difference!
Christmas Jumper Day: This year it's on 12th December - but please remember, it's not enough to just wear your jumper. Support Save the Children with a donation at savethechildren.org or if budgets won't allow, tell your social media and ask your friends to donate on your behalf. As for the jumper itself - I strongly believe that the more tacky the better!
DECEMBER - WEEK 2
To the (Little) Shops: I have devoted an entire week to shopping in this survival guide and I know you are going to think I am crazy but there is a good reason. I am not talking about your usual big retailers. Here is a hard truth that you need to hear: Amazon does not care about your Christmas! Your purchase of a Reindeer Onesie doesn't even equate to 0.0002% of its takings. Getting that gorgeous printed hoodie from Thistle and Bard, or a stunning handmade piece from another small business, well that can be 20% of our winter sales (and we need those to see us through the hard months of January to April). The last shipping dates for the UK and abroad vary from early November to the 2nd week in December for standard post and not much later for express services. Please don't put pressure on small businesses by treating them like their Amazon - we aren't and we can assure you we are working as hard as we can to make your Christmas gifts a true delight!
DECEMBER - WEEK 3
The BIG Freeze: No, I don't mean outside though it probably does feel like the North Pole about now! We are back to the food. Your freezer is your friend. Did you know that stuffing, gravy, and most sauces that usually accompany Christmas Dinner can be frozen? So if want to show off with a few homemade options, make them now and freeze them ahead. My top tip - it's a good idea to freeze a few shop-bought options just in case something doesn't go quite to plan.
Learn to Say No: Indulge your inner Grinch and tell them "I'm booked"! Christmas is for everyone and that includes you. It doesn't matter if you're the primary Christmas organizer in your house or not, we all need time to decompress during the festive period because it can get just too much! If the invites to drinks, parties, family meet-ups, and carol services are driving you up the wall, you have my blessing to tell your friends and family 'no'. They won't hate you, they won't think you are rude, and if they do then it's worth it to protect your sanity!
Wrap It: Start the wrapping if you haven't already. Did you know that most nice wrapping paper CAN'T be recycled? Considering that those gifts spend longer looking great under your tree than they will after they've been opened, I believe that it should be possible to wrap gifts in beautiful paper without it costing the planet and I spent the last 6 months creating exactly that. Thistle and Bard's newest product - wrapping paper - is made on small presses using soy-based inks making it 100% recyclable and with two stunningly popular designs to choose from. We did it! Check the blog in December for some wrapping ideas I'm in love with.
Activities Galore: If you have kids you do not want them walking in on you when you are halfway stuffing a giant Pikachu into a coil of wrapping paper! Plan a few activities to keep them entertained in another room or even outside if you have the space. That goes for you too though... 20 minutes outdoors is the recommended minimum for good mental health so even if you haven't bought tickets to anything special this year, there are tons of activities that are entirely free - seeing the town Christmas lights after the sun has gone down, carol services, and parents shouldn't forget the kid's nativity play if you can bare the cringe!
THAT'S A WRAP! - DECEMBER 24TH
And that's it, your Christmas Countdown is complete! After all the planning and prepping and reading this enormously long blog... you have finally made it and survived Christmas. Your festive cheer should be over-flowing by now but if it isn't that's ok too, you've now got an opportunity to sit back, relax, let the next few days take their course, and indulge in cozy couch time and a good movie. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!
Don't miss out on all of the festive content coming your way including gift guides, craft ideas, and more! Sign up for the Christmas Newsletter to get the inside scoop PLUS info on our Deal of the Week running from November through to December 24th.
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